South Americans - First Report
by Nuno Caminada

February 8, 2004

Yes, the South Americans are on!

After two rainy days, the weather in Rio cleared and a great sunny Sunday greeted the Finn fleet for the first day of the South Americans with 47 skippers have filling the entry form.

With winds from the south, blowing from the entrance of the bay at 6 to 8 knots, the race course was set inside.

For the South Americans and the Gold Cup a ball system was instituted, where right after 11:00 the race officers raise one ball on the club mast if the race course will be set inside the bay, or two balls if the race is outside.

The first race started a little past 13:50, with the fleet divided between the Flamengo beach side and the tricky Niteroi side and the tide channel. The tide was flowing into the bay, creating a green water river that met the dark waters of the bay on a distinct line, which proved a real test even for the most technical skippers. On the downwind mark, surprisingly enough it was Soren Holm in front, who, with little experience on the bay, bested the early arrivers and the locals, taking the lead and not letting go. Soren was followed by Rafael Trujillo, another newcomer to the bay who quickly mastered the tricky wind and sea conditions, and Dean Barker, who had arrived two weeks before and was adjusting well to the course.

At the end of the first regatta, it was Soren Holm at the lead, with Dean Barker in second passing Trujillo on the line, and the Brazilian Champion Guillaume Florent in fourth.

Around 16:00, the tide proved to be too much of a challenge for the wind and the second race was cancelled.

The Final Standings for the first day were (not official):

1 - Soren Holm
2 - Dean Barker
3 - Rafael Trujillo
4 – Guillaume Florent
5 – Ben Ainslie
6 – Christoph Burger
7 – Charlie Cumbley
8 – Jaap Zielhuis
9 – Aaron O’Grady
10 – Agustin Juarez
11 – Balazs Hajdu
12 – Johan Tillander
13 – Sebastien Godefroid
14 – Waclaw Szukiel
15 – Marin Misura
16 – Bruno Prada
17 – Karlo Kuret
18 – Matt Howard
19 – Tapio Nirkko
20 – Charlie Cumbley
21 – Jorge Zariff
22 – Bruno Ismael
23 – Andrew Simpson
24 – David Burrows
25 – Richard Clarke
26 – Rodrick Casander
27 – Mauricio Bueno
28 – Jorge Rodrigues
29 – Stefan deVries
30 – Henry Boening (Maguila)
31 – Alejandro Colla
32 – Mateuzs Kuzsneirewicz
33 – Mauricio Bueno
34 – August Miller
35 – Phillipe Kahn
36 – Gasper Vincec

For more info: www.icrj.com.br